Faces of Main Street: Eric and Rhonda Johnson from Johnson Brothers' Jewelry and Loan

For more than three decades, Rhonda and Eric Johnson have been at the heart of one of downtown Mansfield’s most enduring family businesses: Johnson Brothers Pawn Shop. Together, they’ve built not just a shop, but a legacy of service and resilience.

Rhonda and Eric grew up in Iowa but set out on a journey that would eventually lead them to Mansfield. After Eric attended jewelry school in Paris, Texas, the couple lived in Alabama, before moving to Bucyrus and eventually putting down roots in Mansfield in the late 1980s.

“We wanted that Midwest feeling again—the snow, the four seasons, the sense of community,” Rhonda recalls.

In 1991, the Johnsons opened their first shop on Park Avenue West, originally named Park Avenue Jewelry & Loan. As the business grew and the family’s vision took shape, the shop relocated to 30 S Park St and the name was changed to Johnson Brothers Pawn Shop. Since then, their four children have grown up in the store, and today their son Corey works alongside them.

In 2013, a basement fire forced the Johnsons to close their shop for five years while they repaired and restored the space. But the family’s resilience never wavered. When they reopened, they picked up right where they left off, serving generations of families who have trusted Johnson Brothers for decades.

“We’ve served generation after generation,” Rhonda says. “They watched our kids grow up, and now we’ve watched theirs. After more than 30 years, that’s something we’re proud of.”

That kind of legacy makes the shop unique.

Though originally from Iowa, Rhonda and Eric have now lived in Mansfield longer than anywhere else, and they proudly consider it home. They love the view of Central Park from their shop, where daily scenes of families and neighbors passing through bring a sense of small-town warmth.

“I like the square feeling,” Rhonda says. “It’s a hometown feeling.”

That’s why they’re enthusiastic about the ongoing Main Street Improvement Project, from new sidewalks and benches to the long-awaited conversion of Main Street to two-way. “It’s time to freshen up downtown,” she adds. “Hopefully it brings more people here to see what Mansfield has to offer.”

After 34 years in business, Johnson Brothers Pawn Shop is still one of Mansfield’s best-kept secrets. The Johnsons don’t rely on heavy advertising; word of mouth and personal relationships are what keep people coming back.

“We’ve seen so many businesses come and go, but we’re still here,” Rhonda says proudly. “This is our hometown.”